DDT-2 What Does It Mean To Disciple Your Children?

The last two verses of the Old Testament say,

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. Malachi 4:5-6

Some of the first verses in the New Testament say,

And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the father back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:16-17

Both of these passages are speaking about the prophet John the Baptist and likewise, both say that his work will bring about a turning of hearts. Fathers will turn their hearts to their children and children will turn their hearts toward their fathers.

What was the work and mission of John the Baptist, the one whom the Lord Himself said, “among those born of women, there is none greater” (Luke 7:28)? In a sentence, it was to bring the people to repentance and prepare the way of the Lord to bring forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:3-4). The work that John did in his day is what brought about a turning back to God and it can happen in our day as well.

I believe that it is biblically safe to say that dads have the key to revival. If your desire is that your children come to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (which it should be), then turn your hearts toward them. Children need a father. It’s not hard for your children to turn their hearts toward you, especially when they are young. You have their hearts, but do they have yours?

You don’t need pastors, Sunday school, grandparents, teachers and coaches all working in your children’s life for them to turn out godly. It doesn’t take an army, it takes a dad. It is not a complicated thing, but it is not easy either. It’s not easy because it is your job and no one else’s. Turn your heart to them and prepare the way of the Lord. Salvation is from God. You can’t force the Holy Spirit to regenerate them, but you can prepare their hearts for Him to do His work.

Like I said, it is not complicated, but it is hard. Scripture tells us what to do. There are two main passages that help me understand what God expects of me as a dad; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Ephesians 6:4.

So what does it mean to disciple your children? Read these passages and it will give you a good idea.